THE AMALFI COAST

Day 1
Fly then transfer to our base in the sleepy village of Bomerano.

Day 2
From the front door of the hotel it's a short stroll to the village square (or in the case of Bomerano, a triangle) and the start of our walk. The route today is a good chance to stretch the legs. Following a mixture of paths and tracks we ascend to the top of Monte Tre Calli, where we are rewarded with a spectacular wide-open views of the coastline and the sea. The Agerola Plain and the village of Bomerano is laid out below us and looking west on a clear day we can see the famous island of Capri at the westernmost tip of the Sorrentino Peninsula.

Day 3
After breakfast, we start our walk to Amalfi and the glorious coast. Today certainly has a downhill bias as we follow the path down from Bomerano at 700m to the shores of the Mediterranean and the town of Amalfi. Wonderful views of the Amalfi Coast accompany us as we follow the trail. There are sections of steps today but there is plenty of opportunity to rest and go at your own pace. Amalfi itself has been popular with the British since Edwardian times when the upper classes viewed the town as a pleasant place to spend their winters. The large Duomo dominates the town with its bright coloured tiles so typical of the region. We have free time to explore the town, take a swim or enjoy a well-earned ice cream before we return by bus to Bomerano.

Day 4
We transfer after breakfast to the Bay of Naples where we spend the morning visiting the amazing city of Pompeii. During a long catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in AD 79, Pompeii was completely buried in ash and pumice. Lost for 1700 years, Pompeii's perfectly preserved remains give us an amazing insight into the life of a Roman city. After lunch, we travel by bus, high up onto the slopes of Vesuvius itself. Depending on weather conditions, you may choose to be led by a specialist Volcano guide through one of the many incredible walks around the crater of Vesuvius (optional).

Day 5
Not too many steps as we maintain our height today and walk through meadows and chestnut groves to Valle delle Ferriere National Park. The bustle of the Amalfi Coast is only a few miles away as the crow flies, but high above the throng we have the chance to savour the quieter more rural surrounds.

Day 6
A day to relax, with the chance to take an unguided walk either through the hills or down to the sea. Alternatively you could enjoy a boat ride along the coast (available from Easter to October), visit the island of Capri, or travel by bus to visit the vast buried city of Herculaneum (optional).

Day 7
Our final walk and a fitting finale to the week as we enjoy one of the world's finest day walks. Leaving from our front door step it's a short stroll through the quiet village of Bomerano before we join the Walk of the Gods. The route follows the contours of the land for the majority of the day with amazing views of the Amalfi Coastline far below. In season the hillside is carpeted with flowers and the coastal waters teem with cruisers and pleasure boats. Our destination today is Positano, an almost vertical town of colourful buildings reached by a network of ancient paths and tracks. On the way there is plenty of time to admire one of the most beautiful views of the Amalfi before we descend a long series of steps to the beautiful coastal town of Positano. There is time for private exploration before we return in the late afternoon to our hotel by boat and bus. During the preceding days many meals will have included some delicious locally made smoked Mozzarella and we will have the chance to see its production and take a taste.

Day 8
Transfer to Naples; fly to London.